Question

the zip code would eventually become a fixture in american life, something everybody used to send letters and packages. initially, however, people thought the zip code seemed like another step toward an orwellian future when the federal government and large corporations would reduce everything in people’s lives to numbers. at&t had recently angered the public by requiring people to use entirely numerical telephone numbers rather than the old ones with distinctive two - letter prefixes, like butterfield or murray hill, that stood for their neighborhoods. with the zip code’s introduction, people wondered if small towns like truth or consequences, new mexico; wounded knee, south dakota; and boring, oregon, would forfeit their... names and become 87901, 57794, and 97009.
postal workers didn’t care for the zip code at first either. clerks who had previously had to memorize complicated numerical “schemes” representing towns, neighborhoods, and streets worried that the zip code would dumb down their profession. letter carriers felt insulted by the cartoonish mr. zip.
“i’m tired of the image of the american letter carrier being held up for public ridicule,” complained a carrier from fort worth, texas. “no letter carrier i have ever seen looks as absurd as mr. zip.” yet before the end of 1963, the washington post declared the post office’s campaign to create public
part b
select two reasons that zip codes were a successful solution to the problem.

1. handwritten numbers were easier to read than handwritten addresses.
2. scanning machines could be used to read the codes and automatically sort mail.
3. people learned that numbers would not replace the names of cities and towns.
4. mr. zip raised awareness of the codes even though some postal workers did not like him.
5. an advertising campaign showed that using the codes could greatly assist the post office.

Explanation:

To determine the reasons zip codes were a successful solution, we analyze each option:

1. "Handwritten numbers were easier to read than handwritten addresses" – The text doesn't support this; it focuses on machine - readability, not human readability of numbers vs addresses.
2. "Scanning machines could be used to read the codes and automatically sort mail" – The passage states the Post Office developed a computerized machine (the zip code scanner) to process letters, so this is a valid reason as it shows how zip codes helped with automated mail sorting.
3. "People learned that numbers would not replace the names of cities and towns" – The text is about postal workers' initial concerns about zip codes dumbing down their profession and the image of Mr. Zip, not about people learning numbers wouldn't replace place names as a reason for zip codes' success.
4. "Mr. Zip raised awareness of the codes even though some postal workers did not like him" – Raising awareness (through Mr. Zip) could contribute to the success of zip codes as it would make people more familiar with using them, even with some workers' dislike.
5. "An advertising campaign showed that using the codes could greatly assist the Post Office" – The text mentions the Post Office's campaign to create public awareness, which would help in the successful adoption of zip codes as it would encourage people to use them to assist the Post Office.

For the two correct reasons (assuming we pick two from the valid ones above, say option 2 and option 4 for example, but we need to check the options again. Wait, the options are:

1. Handwritten numbers were easier to read than handwritten addresses – Incorrect as per text.
2. Scanning machines could be used to read the codes and automatically sort mail – Correct, as the zip code scanner was developed for processing.
3. People learned that numbers would not replace the names of cities and towns – Incorrect, text is about workers' concerns, not this as a success reason.
4. Mr. Zip raised awareness of the codes even though some postal workers did not like him – Correct, awareness helps adoption.
5. An advertising campaign showed that using the codes could greatly assist the Post Office – Correct, the campaign was to create public support for zip codes.

If we follow the question to select two, let's pick option 2 and option 4 (or 2 and 5, or 4 and 5). But from the text, the scanning machines (option 2) and the awareness from Mr. Zip (option 4) or the advertising campaign (option 5) are valid. Let's go with option 2 and option 4 for this example.

Answer:

1. Scanning machines could be used to read the codes and automatically sort mail
2. Mr. Zip raised awareness of the codes even though some postal workers did not like him